South Norfolk

South Norfolk's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in work life, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Norfolk increased by 12%, from just under 111,000 to 124,000.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Norfolk was home to, on average, 0.98 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Norfolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Norfolk increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 14% of people in South Norfolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and South Norfolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Norfolk working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Norfolk decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Norfolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in South Norfolk

The number of people in South Norfolk that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 17,000 in 2001 to just under 36,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 29% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in South Norfolk that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 84,000 in 2001 to about 77,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,800 to just over 9,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.0% to 7.7%.

Just over 490 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 280 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in South Norfolk increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and South Norfolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Norfolk

The percentage of South Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.6% to 3.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.9%, while the percentage of South Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Norfolk, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In South Norfolk, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.6% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 15%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in South Norfolk remained close to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78% to 75%.

Private renting in South Norfolk increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Norfolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Norfolk residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 4.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of South Norfolk residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Norfolk decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Norfolk, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in South Norfolk, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.2% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 26%, while the percentage of households in South Norfolk which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 43% to 39%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Norfolk increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Norfolk, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in South Norfolk that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of single people in South Norfolk increased from 22% to 25%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Norfolk

The number of people in South Norfolk from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to just over 120,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in South Norfolk from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 480 in 2001 to about 1,300 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 1.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 500 to about 1,200 (from 0.5% to 1.0%).

Just under 380 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 110 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in South Norfolk decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and South Norfolk by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Norfolk residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 2.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 53%, while the percentage of South Norfolk residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of South Norfolk residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in South Norfolk remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and South Norfolk by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in South Norfolk with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 8.8% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 27%, while the percentage of households in South Norfolk without children remained close to 64%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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